Quick Answer
A 42-year-old man died Oct. 12 after being ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Local reporting identified the ride as Goliath. Four other people were injured, and Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar coasters at six other parks.
A visit to Six Flags Over Georgia ended in a fatal fall Monday afternoon, Oct. 12, when a man was ejected from a roller coaster and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction, according to Cobb County police. Police identified the man Tuesday as a 42-year-old man from Atlanta, Georgia.
The death comes shortly after Six Flags announced the permanent retirement of X2 at its California park. Our previous coverage of the X2 lawsuits examined allegations of serious brain injuries and the park’s response to earlier reports. The Georgia incident now raises another question about amusement ride safety: How was a passenger ejected during a ride?
What happened on Goliath?
The emergency occurred at approximately 3:58 p.m. at the park west of Atlanta. Initial reports described witnesses seeing a man fall from Goliath and strike parts of the coaster. Tuesday’s police statement added that Kariem was ejected and struck other patrons before falling below.
Goliath stopped after the incident. Aerial footage showed a train stopped high on the ride while passengers were evacuated four at a time. Six Flags said park staff and local authorities responded immediately and that it was providing support to affected guests and employees.
Six Flags describes Goliath as a 200-foot hypercoaster. The ride opened in 2006 and reaches speeds of up to 70 mph, according to park information.
Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire announced Tuesday that its team would review the circumstances and compliance with applicable policies and procedures. Cobb County also confirmed that its Major Crimes Unit was involved and that the deceased man’s next of kin had been notified.
Which other Six Flags rides closed?
Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters at six other parks after the fatal incident. The company described the closures as a precaution. A Six Flags representative provided local news with this list:
| Park | Temporarily closed rides |
|---|---|
| Six Flags Great America, Illinois | Raging Bull |
| Six Flags Magic Mountain, California | Goliath |
| Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey | Nitro |
| Canada’s Wonderland, Ontario | Leviathan and Behemoth |
| Carowinds, North Carolina and South Carolina | Fury 325 and Thunder Striker |
| Kings Island, Ohio | Orion and Diamondback |
How does this follow the X2 lawsuits?
Our September article covered three individual lawsuits alleging that riders suffered serious brain injuries after riding X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Their lawyers said more than 100 additional riders had retained the firm. The complaints focused partly on what Six Flags knew about earlier injuries and how it responded before later riders boarded.
Since that article was published, X2’s status has changed. In a Sept. 29 announcement from park President Brian Oerding, Six Flags said it had decided to permanently retire the coaster. The announcement said X2 had passed numerous safety tests and cited concerns about guest confidence.
The X2 complaints concern alleged injuries from forces experienced during the ride. The Georgia death involves a passenger being ejected. Those different events call for different technical evidence, but both make the operator’s safety decisions relevant: how it checks riders, documents problems and responds when someone is seriously hurt.
What records matter after a rider is ejected?
In a potential personal injury or wrongful death case involving an ejection, the review would examine how the rider was secured, how the equipment functioned and what employees did before dispatching the train. The public reports have not established a restraint defect or an operating error in Kariem’s death.
That review could include:
- Loading-area video: Footage may show the boarding process, restraint checks and the sequence before the train left the station.
- The seat and restraint assembly: An examination can assess the equipment’s condition and whether it operated as intended.
- Inspection and maintenance records: These can document earlier concerns, repairs and the checks completed before the ride opened that day.
- Employee training and dispatch instructions: These show what staff were taught to check and how they were expected to respond to a problem.
- Earlier incident reports: Complaints about the same seat, train or procedure may help establish what the operator knew before the event.
For a family, preserving these records can be as important as obtaining the initial police report. Video may be overwritten, equipment may be repaired and witnesses may leave the area. A legal review can identify the evidence to preserve and the questions a qualified ride expert should examine.
Our coverage of the Glenwood Caverns wrongful death case also examined restraint procedures and earlier warnings. That history illustrates why a ride injury case can reach beyond the final moments of a single trip.
What should Texas amusement park visitors know?
Texas has its own amusement ride inspection and insurance requirements. The Texas Department of Insurance explains that covered rides need liability insurance, an inspection by an inspector approved by the insurer and a compliance sticker. TDI does not employ or appoint those inspectors.
The agency also requires operators to file quarterly reports for ride injuries requiring medical treatment or resulting in death. Those reports can help document a ride’s history alongside inspection records and the operator’s own incident files.
If you are seriously injured on a ride, get medical attention and report the incident to staff. Keep your ticket, ride photos, witness contact information and medical records. If you already have photos or video showing what happened, preserve the original files.
For Houston families visiting carnivals, amusement parks or seasonal attractions, the same practical concern applies: A day out should not end with a preventable injury. Our Houston event injury attorneys review serious incidents involving the businesses responsible for operating and managing those attractions.
Six Flags Georgia roller coaster death FAQs
Who died in the Six Flags Over Georgia incident?
Cobb County police identified the man as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta. He died Oct. 12 after being ejected from the ride.
Were other people injured?
Yes. WSB-TV reported that four other people were injured.
Did Six Flags close rides at other parks?
Yes. Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters at six other parks as a precaution after the Georgia incident.
Is X2 permanently closed?
Yes. Six Flags announced Sept. 29 that it would permanently retire X2 at Magic Mountain. That announcement followed the brain injury lawsuits covered in our earlier article.
Talk to an amusement ride injury attorney in Houston
A serious ride injury leaves families with one burning question: how could this have happened? In many cases, the answer is that the operating company knew of the risks and dismissed claims that their equipment or processes are unsafe.
If you or a family member suffered a serious injury at a Texas amusement park, the Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian can review the incident and the steps the operator took before and after it. Hilda Sibrian serves the Houston metropolitan area, including Sugar Land, Missouri City, La Porte, Beaumont, Pasadena, The Woodlands, The Heights, Bellaire, Kingwood, Baytown and of course Houston proper.
Consultations are free and confidential. Contact our office online to discuss your case.
